Inspector Kalanithy v The Waterways Authority [2002] NSWIRComm 344

Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales in Court Session

CITATION : Inspector Kalanithy v The Waterways Authority [2002] NSWIRComm 344 Prosecution: PARTIES : Inspector Kalanithy Defendant: The Waterways Authority FILE NUMBER: IRC8431 of 2001 CORAM: Kavanagh J CATCHWORDS : Prosecution under s17(1) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 1983 - maintenance of the Authority's navigational aids contracted out by defendant - defendant found in control of workplace when maintenance work performed by sub-contractor on navigational aids - duty to ensure its place of work, a navigation light on timber pole, safe and without risk - consideration of programme for upgrading navigational aids and need for research as part of specific deterrence - penalty imposed LEGISLATION CITED : Occupational Health and Safety Act 1983 Ports Corporatisation and Waterways Management Act 1995 McMillan, Britton & Kell Pty Ltd v WorkCover Authority (Insp Blake) (2000) 89 IR 464 WorkCover Authority of NSW (Inspector Ankucic) v McDonald's Australia Ltd (2000) 95 IR 383 Inspector Clarke v W C Meinhardt and Partners Pty Limited (unreported, Fisher CJ, No 1212&3 of 1990, 30 June 1992) Inspector Page v Woolworths Ltd (unreported decision of Peterson J, CT93/1044, 9 September 1994 Inspector Hart v P J Lee & Associates Pty Ltd (unreported, Miller CIM, No 92/809, 27 November 1992 Ferguson v Nelmac (1999) 92 IR 188 CASES CITED : Tyler v Sydney Electricity (1993) 47 IR 1 Lawrenson Diecasting Pty Ltd v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector James Swee Ch'ng) (1999) 90 IR 464 WorkCover Authority of NSW (Inspector Callaghan) v Saunders Constructions Pty Ltd (unreported, Maidment J, CT93/1062, 26.11.93) Capral Aluminium Limited v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Mayo Ramsay) 49 NSWLR 610, (1999-2000) 99 IR 29 Fisher v Samaras Industries Pty Limited (1996) 82 IR 384 R v Thomson, R v Houlton (1999-2000) 49 NSWLR 383, (2000) 115 A Crim R 104 R v Sharma [2002] NSWCCA 142 Warman Ltd v WorkCover Authority (1998) 80 IR 326 HEARING DATES: 11/28/2002 DATE OF JUDGMENT: 12/20/2002